MERRY CHRISTMAS MY DUDES! ...okay, it's not for another 3 days where I'm at, but still! XD I am so excited for you guys to read tihs chapter! I literally had to grab a pillow and squeal into it a few times because its just so friggin cute. I love RokuShi so much, and I thought Christmas would be the perfect holiday for them to really come to terms with some of their emotions. I can totally see them being so awed by the magic of Christmas. Please let me know what you think! constructive criticism and reviews are always welcomed :)

Disclaimer: if i owned Kingdom Hearts, I would make everyone go to therapy. But sadly, I do not own Kingdom Hearts so my babies have to continue to suffer.

"Ugh," Xion moaned, resting her head on the table in defeat. "why is this so hard?"

Kairi took a sip of her hot chocolate before answering. "Because you care," she said simply. "plus, it's your first Christmas."

"Kairi's got a good point." Aqua added, tenderly laying a hand on Xion's shoulder. "You've never done this before. Don't stress yourself out about it. It's the thought that counts."

"But Roxas is my best friend," Xion said dismally, her voice slightly muffled. "I want to get him something special."

Aqua gave the younger girl a smile, squeezing her shoulder. "I'm sure he will love it, whatever you decide to get him."

Xion lifted her head and let out a puff of breath. "It's just...Roxas means a lot to me. I want to get him something meaningful."

Namine, who had taken off one of her boots and was massaging the ball of her foot, looked up at Xion. "Well...maybe we should look somewhere else. We have been here for a few hours now." The other three girls nodded.

It had been a busy morning for all of them. Xion had called Kairi on her Gummiphone, asking for advice on what to get her Secret Santa. It turned out that Kairi also was having trouble with her gifts, so she suggested going into Traverse Town to check out some shops. Upon agreeing that they should invite Namine and Aqua along, the four met up in front of Cid's shop. Then, clad in winter hats and gloves, they went along their way. It was then that Xion realized that in order to get their help, she needed to tell them whose name she drew. She sent a silent apology to Sora as she explained her predicament to the other three.

Kairi, Namine and Aqua had found their Secret Santa gifts relatively fast. Aqua even picked up a few things for Terra and Ventus. And yet, in spite of all their searching, Xion had had no luck. Nothing seemed to be suitable enough for her best friend. So here they were, taking a small break as they drank some hot chocolate at one of the local cocoa stands.

"I'm sure I'll find something if I keep looking," Xion said with a sigh as she straightened up in her chair. She took a small sip of her hot chocolate, looking disheartened.

"Xion," Aqua began gently, "I know he's your best friend, and I know you would like to find the perfect gift for him. But..." she paused for a moment, as if trying to decide what to say. "like I said earlier, I know he will love whatever you get him. You two have known each other for a long time."

"We have, but..." Xion looked down at her hands, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed. "things have been weird lately."

"How?" Kairi asked in concern.

Xion bit her lip slightly. The thing that happened between her and Roxas on Halloween still plagued her mind often. It was an instinctive thing – his hand was just lying there, and she felt a sudden need to hold it. After a solid ten minutes of wrestling with herself, she scooted closer to him, grabbed it gently, and laced her fingers between his own. She remembered Roxas stiffening, as if surprised. But Xion convinced herself to hang on. I am not letting go, she had told herself. After a while, Roxas seemed to relax.

His hand was calloused – the hand of a Keyblade wielder – but also possessed a certain tenderness. It was warmer than her own, and that warmth stuck with Xion long after she let go and they went to bed. It seemed to travel from her hand to her chest, right where her heart would be. It filled her up like a warm drink, and Xion let herself revel in it despite not knowing exactly what it was.

"Well...remember on Halloween when we had the big bonfire?" Xion asked the other three. They all nodded. "I was sitting next to Roxas and...I had this weird feeling." She explained the impulsiveness behind the decision, the sudden determination to not let go and the warmth she was still basking in months later. Namine looked at her in slight wonder, while Kairi and Aqua had knowing smiles on their faces.

"And it's just been awkward because it almost happened again a few days ago," Xion explained, "when we drew names. And I don't like it being awkward, and I don't want to make it more awkward by getting him a gift that he won't like."

"Now I see," Aqua began in a soft voice. "I didn't know your feelings for him ran that deep, Xion."

Xion's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Kairi leaned forward, joy practically radiating off of her skin. "You like him, don't you?" she whispered excitedly.

Xion wasn't sure why, but her face and ears suddenly felt very hot. "W-What? What do you mean?" she looked back and forth between Namine, Kairi and Aqua. "I...of course I like him! He's my best friend, next to Lea."

Aqua let out a gentle laugh and turned in her chair to fully face Xion. "That's not what Kairi means. You know how I feel about Terra, right? And how Kairi feels about Sora?"

Xion thought hard. It was obvious from the moment she met the two that the other cared for their male friends deeply. But there were some things she didn't quite understand: the lingering looks they often shared, the sometimes playful way they would talk to each other, and how many times they would touch each other. But Xion also saw a look in their eyes that she had never known: an adoring, beautiful...soft way. A way that seemed to say, "I would do anything for you."

"Yes," she answered Aqua's question. "but what does that have to do with me and Roxas?"

Kairi smiled. "It just means that you feel the same way about Roxas that I feel about Sora. And Aqua, about Terra. It's not a bad thing," she added hastily at the look of utter shock on Xion's face. "it just takes some time to get used to."

"So...you're saying...I like Roxas as more than a friend?" Xion asked slowly. The other three said nothing, but exchanged knowing looks.

Xion thought back to the days she spent in the Organization. The regular hang outs on the clock-tower, the taste of sea-salt ice cream, the laughter and smiles. She recalled with vivid images how she forced Roxas to fight her, her voluntary defeat, how bits and pieces of her crystallized and floated into the atmosphere like ash. She recalled the warmth of Roxas' hands as he held her, crying out not to leave. She smiled at him, told him it was better his way, to free Kingdom Hearts.

But why did she do what she did in the first place? Surely it went far beyond the fact that the two were best friends. Something deep inside Xion told her that no one would just give up their own life and identity for just anyone, even if it was for a noble reason. It was a reason beyond logic; it wasn't logic at all. It was emotion, something she was still trying to understand the concept of.

Whatever this specific emotion was, it ran so deep and so aggressively that it scared her.

"I'm scared," Xion said suddenly. "what if he doesn't feel the way I do?"

Namine gave Xion a kind smile. "I wouldn't say that. He looks at you like you're the sun."

"You mean I make him squint?" Xion asked, confused.

Namine let out a giggle. "No. I mean that he looks at you like..." she paused, trying to find the words. "like you're the warmest, brightest thing in his life. It's very sweet." Despite her kind words, Xion noticed a sweet sort of sadness in Namine's eyes. Her heart burst with compassion for her friend; if anyone deserved someone who looked at her like that, it was Namine.

"Love in and of itself is always a risk," Aqua replied. "but it's a risk worth taking no matter what happens." Kairi nodded in agreement.

Love.

Is that what this was? This feeling of being warm from the inside out? This feeling of undying loyalty? This feeling that, for whatever reason, seemed to run deeper than mere friendship? It made sense, in a way. But if that's what it was, should she tell Roxas her feelings? Is that what one did when they loved someone else? The thought of revealing the innermost feelings of her heart to Roxas made Xion's stomach turn. Despite him being her best friend, this was something she didn't feel like she could share easily.

But could anyone share those feelings easily for the first time?

Xion gently rubbed her temples; this was getting very confusing.

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"...so that's what's going on," Roxas finished, his head in his hands. "and now I have no idea what to do."

"That does sound stressful," Terra replied from the Gummiphone screen, looking concerned. "you realized this when we drew names, right?" Roxas nodded miserably. "And you drew her name?"

"Yeah," Roxas groaned. "and I'm pretty sure Sora had something to do with it."

Terra smiled a little. "I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case."

Terra's calm demeanor greatly helped Roxas' unease. At first, he wasn't sure where to turn to for advice. Sora was clearly out of the question – Roxas was still mad at that stunt he pulled at the Bistro. He and Riku already had a somewhat complicated relationship, so asking him for advice would only make things more awkward. Lea, being friends with both him and Xion, would somehow make things more complicated. Ventus was always helpful and kind, but he was awfully naive about some things. The only option Roxas could think of was Terra, and it immediately felt right. Terra was a bit quiet, but intuitive. Plus, he was older than Roxas – he probably had more experience than any of the rest combined (except maybe Sora; anyone who saw the way he looked at Kairi knew how he felt about her).

"Let me see if I've got this right," Terra began, thinking back on all Roxas had told him. "you two have been best friends for a while, and now you feel like there's something more there. You feel like you like her as more than a friend, right?"

Roxas nodded.

"But you don't want to ruin your friendship."

Roxas shook his head.

"It's funny you should call me about this," Terra said with a small laugh, running a hand through his hair. "I was in the same boat around Halloween."

"You were?" Roxas asked, surprised.

Terra nodded. "There was a girl that was my best friend, and I had only realized I loved her this past summer. I wanted to tell her so badly, but I was terrified. We had been best friends for so long that I was afraid I'd ruin it if I told her my true feelings."

"...is this about Aqua?" Roxas asked. Terra nodded. "Did you ever tell her?"

"I did," Terra said proudly, "on Halloween night."

"Where was I when this happened?" Roxas asked, in a 'what-the-heck' kind of tone.

Terra laughed. "You guys were all asleep. And I was glad! I didn't want an audience." Roxas laughed, and Terra continued: "but what I'm trying to say is that it's perfectly normal to be scared about this sort of thing. No one wants to be rejected, Roxas. And a lot of times, the fear of that happening can be greater than the love you have for this person." Terra's voice became very soft at his next words: "But if you feel like you want to tell her, don't let anything stop you."

"I can't believe you didn't realize Aqua felt the same way," Roxas said finally, after contemplating his friend's words. "it was obvious to all of us."

Terra smirked slightly. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but you and Xion are the exact same way."

Roxas felt his heart skip. "W-What?"

"When the two of you are together, it's like no one else is in the room," Terra explained patiently. "and whenever she looks at you, she lights up like a firefly. And you look at her the same way."

Roxas' cheeks burned. "I mean, I guess I do, but I had no idea she did that," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair.

Terra let out a booming laugh. "Whatever happens between the two of you, I'm sure it'll be just fine. In fact, I'd say she feels the same as you do. But like I said, if you want to tell her don't let anything stop you."

After a few minutes the two of them said goodbye, and Roxas hung up the phone. He plopped back down on his pillows, letting out a long sigh. If Xion felt the same way that he did, nothing would make him happier. It would be a perfect ending to a first Christmas.

However, if she didn't…

Roxas shuddered slightly. Even though it hadn't happened, the crushing weight of sadness at her not returning his feelings sank into him. He didn't doubt that they'd still be friends – the two of them were far too close to let something like this come between them – but it would be so weird. Roxas could picture it: the two of them and Lea, sitting on top of the clock tower, eating ice cream, and a silence so thick and tense that none would be speaking (well, maybe Lea would. Just to try and lighten the mood).

Roxas glanced at the small wrapped gift on his bedside table. He was sure Xion would like it. From the moment he laid eyes on it, he knew it would bring her joy.

He just hoped his feelings would do the same.

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The day of the Christmas party came all too quickly. Thankfully, Xion had found a solution to her present problem. Holding the small rectangular box in her hands, she walked with Kairi, Namine and Aqua to the Event House. Fresh snow was falling, and the cold outside was a soothing touch to Xion's flushed skin. Her knees felt wobbly – and she was sure it wasn't just because of the small heels she was wearing. Her stomach growled with hunger, but whenever food was placed in front of her Xion lost her appetite. Her heart was pounding so fast and so intensely that Xion was sure everyone would see it when she took off her coat.

That morning, as she was finishing up Roxas' gift, she had made her decision. She would tell Roxas her feelings.

Strangely enough, she felt nearly the same way as she did before she disappeared. Back then, she had felt so full of memories she thought she was going to explode. Today, she felt so full of feelings and apprehension that she wasn't sure if she was going to throw up, faint, or spontaneously combust. Or perhaps all three.

Her three friends had supported her wholeheartedly. They had even gone so far as to make sure she looked extra nice. Now with her hair brushed, a small amount of makeup and a navy blue dress on, Xion felt a little more confident. Not a lot, but it was the least her friends could do to help.

"Hey," Kairi murmured next to her. Xion looked at her friend, and Kairi gave her an encouraging smile. "it's gonna be just fine. You'll do great! And remember, even if you decide not to say anything, that's okay."

"She's right," Aqua said, brushing some snow out of her hair as they walked. "and most importantly, just be yourself. Roxas likes you for you."

Namine, who didn't know much about romance but still wanted to offer as much support as possible, simply grabbed Xion's hand and gave it a small squeeze. Xion gave her a shaky smile.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up," she said weakly as they approached the Event House.

"Well, just don't do it on your shoes," Kairi teased lightly.

The Event House in Twilight Town was a large, old-fashioned building with fancy columns and big windows. The house was typically reserved for large gatherings, such as wedding receptions or New Years Eve parties. Sora had somehow managed to snag it on Christmas Eve, the time of year when reservations were booked far in advance.

Multi-colored Christmas lights hung around the frame of the house, twinkling like stars. A snowman was built in the front yard, holding a broom. A big staircase led up to the front door of the house, and the girls carefully held the railings as they climbed. Since all of them were wearing nice shoes rather than boots, none wanted to take the risk of falling on their face.

The four of them walked inside, gently setting down their gifts and taking off their coats. After hanging them up, they followed the sound of laughter and were led to an enormous sitting room laden with poufs, chairs and small couches. A table with various holiday treats and drinks sat in the back corner. Christmas music played from a radio on one of the small end tables. All around the room were their friends, laughing merrily and munching on goodies.

"Hey, you made it!" Sora called out joyfully, squeezing his way through the crowd. He was dressed rather nicely in a white shirt, black pants and red bowtie. He even had a Santa hat perched on top of his head. "you can hang onto your presents for now. We'll be doing Secret Santa in a bit. Go get some food!"

Kairi bade the other three farewell as she wrapped a hand around Sora's arm. She mouthed, "good luck!" to Xion as she walked away. Soon after, Terra came up to Aqua and kissed her cheek in greeting. He whispered something in greeting, and Aqua beamed at him. Seeing that some of the plates of goodies needed to be refilled, Aqua and Terra walked away as well.

Namine and Xion stood there together, feeling somewhat awkward. Xion saw Namine make eye contact with Riku, only to quickly look away. "Go say hello," Xion encouraged, giving her friend a small nudge. "Riku doesn't bite."

"I...don't know," Namine said quietly, pulling at the hem of her gold dress. "maybe after I get some food." She turned towards Xion. "do you want anything from the table?"

The thought of food only sent Xion's stomach into more of a tizzy. "Maybe just some water. Thanks." Namine nodded before making her way to the table. Xion saw Riku make his way there as well, and he began a conversation with her. Namine gave him a smile in greeting.

"Well, look at you!" Xion turned around to see Lea approaching her. His hair jingled, and it was only when he was close to her that Xion noticed the small jingle bells in his hair.

Lea gave her a bright smile. "You look great, Xion! Where did you get that dress?"

"Kairi let me borrow it," Xion said shyly, adjusting the strap on one of the shoulders. "and thank you. I...wanted to look nice tonight." The navy blue dress complimented her dark hair, and she liked the way it hugged her chest but flared out at her waist.

"Well, you do!" Lea said, ruffling her hair slightly. "Roxas glowed up a little tonight, too." He jabbed his thumb behind him, and Xion peeked around his tall frame to catch a glimpse.

Her breath caught in her throat. Roxas was dressed simply in a white button up shirt, black slacks, and a deep blue waistcoat. Xion wasn't sure if it was the fact that the waistcoat was the same blue as his eyes, that he was laughing about something with Ven, or that he looked impossibly good in that attire, but she felt her face and ears heat up.

Roxas, perhaps sensing that someone was looking at him, turned his head. The two of them locked eyes. Roxas' lips parted slightly in shock. Was he thinking the same as she was?

Xion lifted her hand and gave him a small wave. Roxas did likewise.

"What did I tell ya?" Lea said, smirking slightly at the two of them. "looks good, doesn't he?" Xion merely nodded, and Lea let out a laugh before patting her shoulder and walking to the dessert table.

The reminder that Xion was planning to tell Roxas her feelings slammed into her heart. She swallowed hard; how could she do that now, when she couldn't even speak at the sight of him?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Whoa!" Ven exclaimed, looking over to where Roxas was staring. "Xion looks really pretty!"

"Uh….yeah," Roxas said awkwardly. "yeah...she does."

Ven smirked slightly. "So what are you waiting around me for? Go talk to her!"

"I – I don't know," Roxas mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "she looks busy."

"Busy? She's standing all by herself!" Ven said with a laugh. "She's not talking to anyone right now."

"Well, yeah, but -" Roxas began to argue, but he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Terra standing next to him.

"Roxas, would you mind helping me with something real quick?" Before Roxas could answer, Terra had gently guided him away from Ventus and away from earshot.

"Thanks," Roxas said weakly. "I didn't know what else to say."

"Ven can be a handful at times," Terra said, albeit lovingly. His expression then turned serious. "Have you decided what to do? About Xion, I mean."

Roxas gave a slow nod. "I think so."

"Can I help in any way?" Terra asked. "what do you need?"

"Is there a potion that takes away this feeling?" Roxas asked, laying a hand on his stomach. It felt like it was full of birds in a cage, demanding to be set free.

Terra let out a small laugh. "Afraid not. But you can do it. I'm rooting for ya." He paused as he heard voices die down. "I think we're about to start. We better go."

The two of them made their way back to the center of the room, where Sora was talking.

"Okay, everyone!" Sora's cheerful voice burst through Roxas' troubled thoughts. "it's time for the gift exchange! We all need to sit in a big circle so we can see one another."

Roxas decided to stick close to Terra. He sat next to his older friend, clutching the small present in his hands. He took a glance across the circle to see Xion sitting next to Riku. The two made eye contact, and this time Xion was the first to look away.

"So, who wants to go first?" Sora asked brightly, once he explained how everyone was going to get their presents.

"Can I be the first to get a present?" Lea said in a slow drawl. Roxas snickered. "Alright, alright," he relented, holding his hands up in surrender as Sora gave him a look. Lea stood up, holding a small square box. "I drew Kairi's name."

As he made his way over to Kairi – and Kairi delightfully thanked him – Roxas found himself lost in thought. The voices of those around him seemed to fade away. A rhythmic beat was pounding in his ears: Ka-THUMP. Ka-THUMP. Roxas absentmindedly laid a hand on his chest; he could feel his heart beating beneath his fingertips. If it were any louder or stronger, everyone else probably could too. And then everyone would ask why he was so nervous, which would lead to him trying to defend himself, which would lead someone to making a conclusion, which would –

Geez. No one told him that being human would be so complicated. Roxas closed his eyes, forcing himself to take deep breaths. He understood the reason why he was so nervous, but it still sent a twinge of annoyance through him. Why couldn't he just calm down? Why couldn't his body do what he wanted it to?

"Hey," Terra's whisper cut through Roxas' thoughts. "it's gonna be okay. You don't have to tell her in front of everyone. It can wait till after the gift exchange." Roxas slowly opened his eyes and nodded.

"Your turn, Xion," Sora called, fiddling with his Santa hat. Roxas felt his heart stop for a split second. Whose name did she pick? What if it was Ven, or Riku? Sudden images of Xion giving either of the two a gift, the other smiling gently and the two embracing nearly set his nerves on fire.

Xion's cheeks went slightly pink as everyone looked at her. "Well...I drew Roxas' name."

Roxas swore he heard a record scratch. Wait. What?

Xion stood up and made her way over to him. She wasn't looking directly at him, and her fingers kept fiddling with her hair. The blue dress she was wearing swayed slightly. Roxas stood up to meet her, feeling light-headed. For some reason, everyone else seemed to fade away, and it felt like it was only him and Xion in the room.

Xion peeked up at Roxas through her eyelashes. "It's not much, but I hope you like it." her voice was soft. She held out the rectangular box in her hands.

"I'm sure I will," Roxas replied, giving her a small smile.. Xion took a few steps back so the rest of their friends could see. Roxas gently began to peel the wrapping paper off.

"Come on, Roxas!" Lea suddenly shouted. Everyone turned to look at him. "this is a present! You're supposed to rip it open!"

"Knock it off," Isa chided. Lea gave his friend a triumphant smile as Roxas began to tear at the wrapping paper more ferociously.

Roxas cast the wrapping paper aside and opened the lid to the box. He heard himself let out a small gasp. Gently lying there at the bottom of the box was a long, very warm-looking, royal blue scarf. Judging by the slightly uneven knitting, Roxas knew it was homemade. He looked up at Xion, who simply gave him a smile. Roxas felt something prick at his heart, and he swallowed hard.

Amid the shouts of, "what is it?!" and "show us!" Roxas gently took the scarf out of the box and lifted it up. Everyone "ooohed" and "ahhhed" at the sight of the scarf.

"It's so cute!" Kairi gushed. "did you make that?"

Xion nodded. "I learned how to knit a while ago from Ventus. I asked him for some patterns and she showed me how to do it."

"Since when did Ventus learn how to knit?" Terra whispered to Aqua. Aqua shrugged.

"Thank you," Roxas said, his voice slightly choked. He cleared his thro at before saying, "thank you, Xion. I love it, and I'll put it to good use." Xion simply gave him a bright smile in return.

"So who did you get, Roxas?" Sora asked, a mischievous smirk on his lips.

Somehow, Roxas' confidence seemed to shoot through the roof. He wasn't sure if it was the scarf, the atmosphere of the party, or his best friend looking so pretty, but he accepted it. "It's funny," he said, scooping down to pick up his gift, "Xion drew my name, and I drew hers."

There were various cries of, "no way!" and "awww, how cute!" from the room. Roxas handed Xion the small box, and Xion gladly accepted it. The gift was in a small velvet box, so there was no need for wrapping. Xion gently pried off the lid and looked inside. She gasped and held a hand to her chest.

"What is it?" Lea asked, trying to catch a glimpse of the box. "it's not a ring or something, is it?" He let out a yelp of pain as Isa elbowed him in the ribs.

Xion gingerly lifted up a small piece of jewelry. It was about the size of the palm of her hand, and glittered in the dim lights. Various designs of different seashells bedazzled the edge of it.

"I, uh, noticed your bangs were getting kind of long," Roxas said, aware that every eye in the room was on him. "and you're constantly brushing them out of your face. I saw this hair comb in a shop and thought you'd like it."

Dead silence. Roxas could feel it crawling on his skin; he had to do something, fast.

"I mean, if you don't," he added quickly, "I can always return it. It wasn't too much. Uh...sorry? Maybe it was kind of a silly thing to -"

He was cut off by Xion's arms wrapping around his neck. She was so close to him he could smell the scent of her shampoo. Roxas suddenly forgot how to breathe.

"What are you talking about?! I love it!" Xion shrieked. "it's so beautiful! Thank you, Roxas!"

Roxas gently patted her on the back awkwardly. "You're welcome." For all he knew, he could've been speaking another language.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The rest of the party went on as scheduled: Secret Santa finished shortly after, some games were played, and now everyone was just sitting around talking. Kairi was cuddled up next to a very tired but very happy looking Sora. Aqua and Terra were sitting on one of the couches, holding hands and talking quietly. Ven, Lea and Isa were swapping stories by the fire. Namine was showing Riku how to make paper snowflakes, laughing a little as his turned out to be more like abstract art.

Roxas was in the hallway, looking up at one of the big Christmas trees by the stairwell. The twinkling lights shone brightly, the star on top adding the final touch of magic. For a while Roxas simply stared at it, soaking it all in. What people called "the magic of Christmas" was surely alive inside of him. He felt lighter than a feather, both in body and spirit. Seeing how much Xion appreciated and loved his gift was a far greater gift than giving it.

"Roxas? What are you doing out here?"

Roxas turned to see Xion walking towards him, still holding her small gift in her hands. She had a bright smile on her face, her low heels clicking on the wooden floor.

"Just looking at the tree," Roxas answered, turning back towards it.

"It's beautiful, right?" Xion asked, standing next to him and looking at it herself. "I don't know what it is about Christmas trees, but they always bring some feeling of magic."

Roxas looked at her. The lights from the tree reflected in her large eyes, and the dimness of the hallway cast shadows across her face. He knew Xion's face inside and out, from the small bump on the bridge of her nose to the dimple in her left cheek. And yet, somehow, he felt like he was seeing her for the very first time.

"I'm glad you liked your gift," he said softly.

Xion turned to him in excitement. "Of course I do! It's from you, silly." Not seeming to notice Roxas' blushing face, she opened the small box again and held up the comb. "It was very thoughtful to think of something like this, Roxas."

Roxas smiled in reply. As if he were suddenly not in control of his body, he gently took the comb from her hand, brushed back her long bangs and set the comb in her dark hair. "There," he said, his voice coming out very quiet. "now you can see better." Realizing that his hand was still lingering on the side of her face, he quickly dropped it. He looked away from her, suddenly feeling extremely awkward. His heart was pounding loudly in his ears again, his palms were sweaty (he criticized himself for touching her hair with his sweaty hands) and he felt light-headed.

"Thank you," Xion said again, her voice just as soft as his. Her cheeks were pink. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Roxas...I have to tell you something."

Roxas' head snapped up to look at her. She had to say something too? "I do, too," he said, groaning inwardly at how stupid his voice sounded.

"Oh," Xion said, surprised. "then you go first."

Roxas' stomach churned. "No, it's okay, you can go."

"No, you," Xion insisted.

Roxas let out a sigh. How was he even going to do this? Arguing with her to go first would only lead to an endless battle of, "you go, no you go, no you." Surely whatever she had to say would be more important. But judging by the look in Xion's eyes, she really wanted him to say whatever he had to say first.

Just be yourself, Terra's voice reminded him inside his head.

But what if "myself" is awkward and weird?! Roxas nearly screamed silently. Unfortunately, there was no answer. He took another deep breath, vowed that he wasn't going to back down, and began to speak.

"Xion...we've been best friends for a while. You, me and Lea. Since the Organization days when we were Nobodies, we stuck together." the words came out clumsily, but Roxas forced himself to keep going. "and now we're all back together again, and it's like nothing's changed. But...a few things have. Within myself, I mean." He continued explaining upon seeing Xion's confused expression. "I don't know a lot about the world, or about feelings. Lea does, and he helps a lot. But...you've been helping a lot, too. And we've been experiencing these things together, and it's been hard and weird, but...there's no one else I'd rather do it with."

Roxas took another deep breath before continuing. "I guess...what I'm trying to say is...thank you. For all of your help and support. For showing me cool things about the world, like Christmas trees." he gestured to the tree in front of them. "And for being patient with me as I've tried to figure things out. You..." Roxas paused, choosing his next words carefully. "You make me feel like a real person. Like I exist. You make me feel alive. And I...really like you for that." He finished lamely.

There was no response. Roxas nervously looked at Xion and was taken aback. Her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.

"Oh no," Roxas said quickly, "did I say something wrong?! Oh, Xion, I'm so sorry -"

"Don't apologize!" Xion interrupted, wiping her eyes. "I'm crying, but I'm not sad. I actually feel very...happy," she said slowly, a smile growing on her face, "because you've done the same for me. You always have, Roxas. And I...really like you for that, too." Her entire face was red.

A wave of joy – pure, whole joy – swept over Roxas. He didn't know whether to scream, jump around, or throw his head back and laugh. A smile broke out on his face, and without thinking he embraced Xion in a tight hug. She hugged him back just as fiercely, burrowing her face in the crook of his neck.

"I was so scared," Roxas breathed, letting out a small laugh, "I thought you wouldn't feel the same."

"Me too!" Xion laughed. She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "Merry Christmas, Roxas."

"Merry Christmas, Xion."

Roxas wasn't quite sure what drove him to do what he did next. There was a weird excitement in the air, and his heart felt so full it was about to burst. He didn't know if it was pure instinct, an emotion he didn't know the name for, or something else, but after a moment of staring at his best friend he felt his head lean towards hers. His eyes closed, and their lips touched.

And it was, by far, the single greatest emotion Roxas and Xion had ever experienced.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ha! Told ya!" Sora said, hitting Lea in the arm and extending a hand. "pay up!"

Lea rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket. "It's about time. Can you believe I had to rig the Secret Santa thing to make sure this happened? Those two have been dancing around each other for months now. By the way," he added as he handed Sora the munny, "thanks for playing along with this and acting like you didn't know anything."

"No problem!" Sora said, grinning brightly. "It was a good idea."